Watch a documentary about archimandrite Gabriel online!

Michał Kalina
Polish Orthodox Church
18.04.2012

Archimandrite Gabriel – an Orthodox monk from the Podlasie province in Poland – is the founder and sole inhabitant of the Kudak grove hermitage by river Narew. During his first few years there, he lived and prayed in a wagon house, without electricity, running water, or contact with the outside world. After five years, thanks to the help of people of Orthodox faith from local villages, the grove saw the rise of a wooden church, a dormitory for monks, and outbuildings.

Pilgrims are drawn to the place by archimandrite Gabriel’s personality: he can find common ground with anyone, he grants spiritual advice, heals with herbs, and keeps bees. When necessary, he rolls up his sleeves and works on building the hermitage right alongside everyone else.

The archimandrite’s biggest concern is finding a successor. Prospective monks don’t last long in the hermitage, however. They can’t stand the lack of access to civilization, common comforts, and contact with their peers.

You can watch a documentary film about him on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WH0V6sA8S8 The film has English subtitles.

Saints Anthony and Theodosius of Kiev Skete in Odrynki (northeastern Poland) was founded in 2009 by archimandrite Gabriel (Giba), the former abbot of the Annunciation Lavra in Supraśl. It is under the spiritual guidance of the Supraśl Lavra. The choice of the place to create the skete was not accidental. From XVII to XIX century there was Ascension Monastery in there. According to local tradition that area had been also inhabitted by hermits even before. It’s currently the only one skete in the Polish Orthodox Church.

Source: